Calling Asian tech startups

A new generation of almost everything is emerging--from the way we search for information and the way we tune in to music, to the way we communicate with one another, shop and transact.Tech stalwarts like IBM, HP, Cisco, Microsoft and Oracle continue to be pillars of the tech industry, but many of these new possibilities are also the resulting efforts of smaller companies, startups and individuals.

A new generation of almost everything is emerging--from the way we search for information and the way we tune in to music, to the way we communicate with one another, shop and transact.

Tech stalwarts like IBM, HP, Cisco, Microsoft and Oracle continue to be pillars of the tech industry, but many of these new possibilities are also the resulting efforts of smaller companies, startups and individuals. Good examples are Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit; social networking sites like MySpace.com and Cyworld; and Jajay, an Austrian Net telephony startup.

I am sure that a lot of great ideas will continue to come out of garages and home offices. And if we look at the geographical spread of tech innovation, Asia is also cultivating its own pool of technopreneurs, alongside the US and UK. This is why ZDNet Asia is launching the Top Asian TechnoVisionaries 2006/07 Award.

Tech innovation is on the rise in this part of the world, and we want to recognize Asia's most promising homegrown tech startups and technopreneurs. Besides identifying the Top Asian TechnoVisionaries, we'll also be handing out two special awards: Breakthrough Award and Asian Technopreneur of the Year.

Those interested will have to fill up a nomination form. All completed forms must be submitted by the new extended deadline: Sept. 22, 2006. So don't wait. Download the nomination form, or drop me an e-mail if you've any questions.